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N. B. LUCAS, OF. JERSEY COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

TRAP FOR ANIMALS.

Speccaton of Letters Patent No. 5,508, dated April 11, 1848.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known thatI I, NAroLioN B. Lucas, of the county of Jersey and State of Illinois, have invented a new and improved self-setting rat-trap, and which I shall denominate Lucass self setting rat trap, but which can be varied in size and use to catch and hold animals from the bigness of a mouse to that of a bear, and of which I do declare the following to be a full and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which Figure V is a side view showing in elevation all of the yworking parts or a vertical projection of the same. Fig. H is a horizontal projection of the same or a view from above, both figures representing all of the parts fully and their connection and operation together, and Fig. 3, represents an exterior or perspective view exhibiting the coveringand prison boxes and also a part of the machinery, of which B is a slide cover to the covering box and other parts as far as shown are hereafter referred to in connection with the other figures.

My invention consists first in a prison box which is in size, to suit the game designed for, say for rats about two and a half feet long, one foot wide and fifteen inches deep. It is furnished with two lateral wire grat-ed windows on the lower parts of each side C R to lure the game from cutting at the wood in `efforts to escape. In other respects this is but a common box made of any kinds of wood. Its cover is made to slide in grooves, for removal or replacing at pleasure and is made to carry and sustain the covering box with all of the machinery of the trap. This cover is provided with an opening 'n m Fig. V for tilt boards, to work in, and is the space between E E E E Fig. H.

The tilt boards T T Fig. H T T Fig. V and H H Fig. 3, are arranged to plunge the animal through the opening in the cover last described, into the prison box. They may be made of wood or iron, and for the box above described should be about eight inches wide and each half its length. They are to be hung, not quite two thirds of their lengths from the inner to the outer ends, by ears turned upward for the pivots above as E E Fig. V and I I Fig. 3, the object of which is to give more force by the weight of the plates or tilts for restoration when sprung;

E E E E Fig. H, shows the position of thesel ears on the points of suspension of the tilt boards over the opening in the prison box cover. These tilt boards are held down for rm footing of the animals set for, by catch levers which are fully represented in Fig. V.

L L are the levers-working on the pivots y y whose outer arms are to preponderate in weight so that the catches lo 7c may always be ready to close upon the outer ends of the tilt boards; when they in like manner, by the preponderating weights of their outer ends, restore themselves after being sprung. A part of one of these levers is shown in Fig. Z. F, K is its catch-L L Fig. H is the horizontal projection of the same. These levers have their inner ends, nearly over the middle of the machine, connected by the cords CZ d to a third lever or trigger Fig. V and a: Fig. H and which extends horizontally across the covering box, a little above the opening between the tiltboards. Its pivot is on the side of the covering box, and is so arranged as to allow of a vertical or .raising and falling motion,

only that it may not be entangled with the tilt boards in their motions. The cords from the catch levers are attached and adjusted to the trigger so that when the trap is set, the trigger being in a horizontal position, the catches of the former are allowed to hold upon the outer ends of the tilt boards, and thus'when the trigger is borne down, the catches are made to quit their hold and the tilt boards are free to plunge any weight on their inner ends into the prison box. The weight of the outer ends o-f the catch levers, as will easily be seen, must be such as to overbalance their inner arms, not only, but to elevate the trigger also.

To facilitate the working of the trap a wire spring, Fig. 3, Gr Fig. V, s s, may be used for the outer ends of the tilt boards to strike when sprung to send them back with more speed.

Fig. 3 A, is the covering box; B, it-s sliding cover; C, a head-board across its opening; D, a partition to protect the levers and their connecting cords.

Fig. V, CO, and Fig. H CO, CO, are the traces of this box.

P, Fig. H, is the head board; P, the partition represented in the other figure.

This covering box may be dispensed with or used. For higher game such as wolves and bear I substitute a suitable sized pit, and erect on my cover, temporary stakes to support my levers upon-so as to alloW brush to be arranged around as a blind and obstruction except at the proper entrance. The head board above described may be used or the passage over the tilt boards left open at the pleasure of the operator.

The operation of the machine is plain. The bait is suspended over or near by the trigger, When the animal in reaching after it presses doWn the trigger, Which clears the tilt boards from the catch levers and plunges him instantly into the prison boX 

